The UP Fighting Maroons Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Teams (UPMVT and UPWVT) opened the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) volleyball tournament with a double victory against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors on Feb. 15 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The UPMVT rallied from behind to beat the UE Red Warriors in five grueling sets, 19-25, 25-23, 24-26, 25-16, 18-16.
The two teams took turns in winning the sets. UE won the first and third frames, while the UPMVT grabbed the second and fourth sets.
Trailing most of the time in the extended fifth set and with the Red Warriors getting three match points, UPMVT rookie Olayemi Raheem ignited the Fighting Maroons’ comeback with his powerful attacks. With the score tied at 16, UE’s Steven Aligayon committed a spiking error before UPMVT’s Marlon De Guzman’s dropped ball, sealing the win for the Fighting Maroons.
Raheem paced the Fighting Maroons with 25 points built from 24 attacks and a block, while Angelo Nicolas scored 14 points.
Meanwhile, the UPWVT also fended off the determined UE Lady Warriors in five thrilling sets, 25-18, 26-24, 24-26, 13-25, 15-13.
The UPWVT took the first two sets and appeared for a sweep as they grab the match point in the third set, 24-23, on a cross-court hit by rookie Kianne Olango. UE’s Nessa Bangayan then scored on her attack to extend the set. Two consecutive errors committed then by UPWVT paved for the Lady Warriors to snatch the third set.
Tables were turned in the fourth set as the Lady Warriors dominated the Fighting Maroons to even the match and sent it to a decider set.
The UPWVT, however, started strong in the fifth and final set and was ahead by three points, 13-10, when UE’s Kayce Balingit and Ashley Cañete rallied for the Lady Warriors to level the score at 13 apiece. In the ensuing plays, UPWVT’s Nica Celis scored via a power tip while Nina Ytang scored on a booming quick attack, punctuating the win for the Fighting Maroons.
Joan Monares led the UPWVT with 17 points, 16 from attacks and one service ace. Monares also had 11 excellent digs. Olango contributed with 15 points, while Ira Jaboneta and Ytang chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively.
UP’s next games will be on Feb. 19, with the UPMVT taking on the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws at 3 p.m. while the UPWVT tackles the FEU Lady Tamaraws at 5 p.m. Both games will be played at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.